Overshoe with rear opening and tongue therein



May 23, 1950 K. c. DEMICK 2,508,994

OVERSHOE WITH REAR OPENING AND TONGUE THEREIN Filed June 28, 1947 7222/577 7021 K522225211 .C-DEmiJ/E' Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE OVERSHOE WITH REAR OPENING AND TONGUE THEREIN ApplicationJune 28, 1947, Serial No. 757,751

4 Claims. 1

This invention is concerned with an article of footwear such as anovershoe or the like of the rear-opening type. More particularly, theinvention is concerned with a rear-opening overshoe provided with atongue adapted to act as a shoe horn to aid in donning theovershoe.

The objects of the invention include providing an overshoe of therear-opening type which may be donned without the necessity for soilingthe hands, providing an overshoe in which the uppers may be openedsufficiently to permit ready donning and doifing, providing an overshoehaving as an integral part thereof means for guiding the shoe intoproper position in the overshoe and particularly for guiding the heel ofa shoe into the heel pocket, and generall providing an overshoecombining serviceability and pleasing appearance. Other objects will beapparent from the description which follows.

In general, an overshoe embodying this invention comprises uppers andsole portions joined together in a unitary structure in which the uppersis split down the back from the top thereof to the top of the heelpocket, the uppers having closure means for the slit rear zone andhaving a tongue positioned inside the slit rear zone with a lowerportion of the tongue secured to the uppers across the slit and theupper portion of the tongue unsecured to the uppers.

The invention is best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear view in elevation of an overshoe embodying theinvention with the upper portion closed;

Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the overshoe in condition fordonning and doffing; and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

An overshoe constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention asshown in Fig. 1 consists of sole I and uppers II portions joinedtogether in a unitary structure. The overshoe has a relatively deep heelpocket I2 with a heel bulge I3 above pocket I2 to conform to the contourof the wearers shoe, the overshoe having a form-fitting ankle-encirclingportion I4. The uppers I I is divided along a rear zone by a slit I5which extends downwardly from the top I6 of the uppers and terminatesshort of the bottom of the heel pocket I2, preferably terminating nearthe top of the heel pocket.

Uppers I I is provided with suitable closure means adapted to hold theedges of the divided rear zone in abutting relation, the closure meansrear zone of uppers II.

preferably comprising a slide fastener I'I secured to the uppers IIalong the edges of the slit I5.

A tongue I8 is positioned inside the divided The lateral edges ofthelower portion of tongue Is are secured to uppers I I on the respectivesides of slit I5 from at least the lower end of slit I5 to the top ofheel bulge I3. The upper portion of tongue I8 is unsecured to uppers II, and tongue I8 extends substantially the entire length of slit I5.

The entire tongue is of inelastic material, and

the central zone I9 of the lower portion is relatively stiff while theremainder of the tongue is relatively flexible. The lower portion oftongue I8 is of suflicient width to allow the uppers to be spread out toa considerable extent While donning or doffing the overshoe. The excesswidth of the tongue folds into generall V-shaped bellows pockets on eachside of the stiff central zone I9 when the rear of the uppers is closed.Tongue I8 preferably comprises flexible textile fabric which may bewaterproofed if desired. Central zone I9 of tongue I8 is preferablystiffened by an insert of stiff duck fabric extending from the lower endof tongue I8 up to the point where the longitudinal edges of the tongueare unsecured to the upper, i. e., to the top of the heel bulge. Thestiffened central zone may be formed by any suitable stiffening means asfor example by impregnating or coating a central zone of the tongue withresinous material. This central zone serves as a shoe horn to guide theheel of the shoe into the heel pocket and thus to secure correctpositioning of the shoe in the overshoe. The reinforced central zone isextended to the height at which the heel of a shoe first contacts thetongue and prevents undue abrasion of the tongue.

Slit I5 terminates near the top of the heel pocket I2 so that the shoeheel must slide into the proper place in the pocket with the aid oftongue I8. Since tongue I8 serves as a shoe horn, it is not necessary ordesirable to extend slit I5 to the bottom of heel pocket I2. Since slitI5 terminates at the top of heel pocket I2, the shoe heel sliding alongtongue I8 is always in correct position upon entering pocket I2 and thisalso forces the toe of the wearers shoe into the toe portion of theovershoe without the necessity of the wearer soiling his hand by pullingon the sole of the overshoe.

Tongue I8 is secured to uppers II up to the top of heel bulge I8 so thatthe tongue is supported by the uppers throughout the entire zone inwhich the shoe heel is in contact with the tongue and exerting pressurethereon. Thus, pressure on the tongue in this region tends to pull theovershoe onto the shoe. The unsecured upper tongue portion allows theperson donning the overshoe to grasp the tongue easily and pull theovershoe on over the shoe without soiling his hands.

Since the tongue is adapted to act as a shoe horn, it must necessarilybe of inelastic material. The fullness necessary to allow the uppers tobe opened beyond its normal condition is provided by the bellows pocketsof the lower portion of the tongue. The tongue is preferably extendedsubstantially to the top of the uppers so that it also serves as a guardinside the closure means.

When the overshoe is being worn, the edges of the divided rear zone ofthe upper are held in abutting relation by the closure means and thetongue is entirely hidden inside the uppers so that the overshoepresents a neat and pleasing appearance.

The invention hasb'een described in detail with reference to an overshoewhich constitutes a preferred embodiment thereof, but the invention maybe embodied in any rear-opening article of footwear where it isdesirable to provide means integral therewith for guiding the shoe or"the wearer into the article.

Variations and modifications may be effected within the spirit and scopeor the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An overshoe having an upper extending above the ankle and openingalong a slit extending downwardly from the. top margin in the rear ofthe overshoe, said slit terminating short of the bottom of the heelpocket, a shield member adapted to act as a shoe horn underlyingsubstantially the full length of the slit along the inner face of theupper and secured to said upper along both sides of said slit from thebottom thereof to approximately ankle level and extending upwardly freeof the upper as a relatively narrow elongated tongue above said level,reinforcing means for stiffening the central zone of said shield memberfrom approximately the bottom thereof to at least ankle level, andclosure means for closing said slit.

2.. The overshoe of claim 1 in which a bellows pocket is provided ateach side of said shield member in the zone secured to the upper.

3. An overshoe having an upper extending above the ankle and openingalong a slit extending downwardly from the top margin in the rear of theovershoe, said slit terminating short of the bottom of the heel pocket,a shield member adapted to act as a shoe horn underlying substantiallythe full length of the slit along the inner face of the upper andsecured to said upper along both sides of said slit from the bottomthereof to approximately ankle level and extending upwardly free of theupper as a relatively narrow elongated tongue above said level, astiffening member secured to the central zone of said shield member fromapproximately the bottom thereof to approximately ankle level, andclosure means for closing said slit.

4. The overshoe of claim 3 in which a bellows pocket is provided at eachside of said tongue member in the zone secured to the upper.

KENNETH C. DEMICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,777,137 Blair Sept. 30, 19301,839,274 Sundean Jan. 5, 1932 2,024,766 Ingwer Dec. 17, 1935 2,215,880Lasley Sept. 24, 1940 2,285,751 Tamaki June 9, 19 12 Certificate ofCorrection Patent No. 2,508,994 May 23, 1950 KENNETH C. DEMICK It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 27, for the Word tongue read shield;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOlfice. Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

